Torsion bar mounting



March 17, 1953 c. R. PAToN 2,631,844

TORSIQN BAR MOUNTING Original Filed Jan` 2l, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Cua: R. Huron INVENTOR. E. 3 61 chem,

BY fi M.

JM 1' M uw,

, ATTORNEYS.

March 17, 1953 c. R. PAToN ToRsIoN BAR MOUNTING Original Filed Jan. 2l, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 llllllllllllllllllllllulllll Y CLvaf R. PAroN ylllnvlllllz IN VEN TOR. 63 54 BY i@ MMM E'- 'I A n! 4a.@

v Arromwsys.

Patented Mar. 17, 1953 TORSION BAR MOUNTING Clyde R. Paton, Bloomfield Village, Mich., as-

signor to FordMotor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of abandoned application Serial No.

642,509, January '21,

This application June 16, 1951, Serial No. 232,038

172 Claims. (Cl. 267-57) This invention relates generally to torsion bar suspensions for motor vehicles, and is a continuation of applicants copending application, Sverial Number 642,509, led January 21, 1946, now abandoned.

Applicants construction is applicabley to a vehicle suspension Ysystem of the type employing a pair of vertically spaced levers extending transversely from each side of the front portion of the vehicle frame. The levers are pivotally connected at their inner ends to the frame and at their outer ends to wheel carriers supporting the front road wheels. Each front wheel is resiliently suspended by means of a torsion bar extending longitudinally of the vehicle between one of the levers andthe frame and spaced laterally from the pivotal axis of the lever. The forward end of each torsion bar is U-shaped and is arranged in supporting relation with the lever at a pair of transversely spaced points. The rearward end of the torsion bar is similarly U-shaped and has spaced points of support with a transverse frame member. Relative angular movement occurs at one of the points of support between the torsion bar and the lever, and between the torsion bar and the frame, as the front wheel encounters road irregularites and thetorsion bar is stressed. Antifriction bearings of semi-cylindrical shape are used at these points to reduce wear and eliminate noise, and yet enable the torsion bar to be easily assembled and disassembled from the vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, particularly when considered in conn'ectionV with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the front portion of a motor vehicle chassis equipped with torsion bars Y ings, the reference character Il indicates the side members of a vehicle frame having a front cross member I2, X-frame members I3, and a transverse frame member I4 supported between the X-frame member. Front wheels l5 are independently mounted upon the frame by suspensions 01 the double lever type. The suspension for each front wheel being identical, only that for the left front wheel will be described in detail.

A pair of vertically spaced upper and lowerr "wishbone levers I6 and l1 are pivotally mounted upon the vehicle frame upon shafts I8 and I9 respectively. Wheel I5 is connected by a king pin 2I to a wheel carrier 22, the upper and lower portions of which are pivotally connected to the outer ends of the levers I6 and I'I respectively.

Pivotal movement of the levers is limited by a pair of resilient stops 23 mounted upon the frame.

A torsion bar 24, having a straight body portion 25, extends generally longitudinally of the vehicle frame, being spaced laterally outwardly a short distance from a pivotal axis of the lower lever I'i. At its forward end, the straight body portion 25 of the torsion bar extends through a hollow sleeve 26 formed in the rearward arm 2'I of the lower lever I'I. A semi-cylindrical shell 28 is welded or otherwise suitably secured in the upper half of the sleeve 26, extending for approximately one-half the circumference thereof.

Located between the torsion bar and the shell 28 is a bearing 29 of antifriction material. The

bearing 29 can be formed of either metallic orY nonmetallic antifriction material and vcan be either of the lubricated or nonlubricated type. The bearing 29 is shown as extending slightly less than one-half the circumference of the torsion bar and may be bonded or otherwise secured to the bar, in which case it frictionally engages the shell 28; or it may be bonded or secured in the shell and frictionally engageable With the torsion bar. The portion of the torsion bar extending forwardly of the sleeve 26 is formed into a curved return-bend or U-shaped portion 3| with the free end thereof received within a sleeve 32 formed in the rearward arm 2'I of the lower lever I1 at a point spaced laterally outwardly from the sleeve 26.

With the above-described construction, the torsion bar 24 has a pair of spaced points of support with the lever I1, at the sleeves 26 and l32. It has been found that the U-shaped portion 3| of the torsion bar continues in torsion for approximately 30 beyond its point of initial curvature, and that beyond this point the stress changes from torsion to bending. As a result of this continuation of the torsional stress, relative angular movement occurs between the torsion bar and the lower lever in the region of the sleeve 26, and since there is a considerable load upon the torsion bar, objectionable wear accompanied by squeaks and other noises is likely to quired relative angular movement without causing objectionable wear or annoying sounds. In-

asmuch 'as the semi-cylindrical shell 28 and..

.bearing 29 extend circumferentiallyv around the' l upper half only: o"i` the torsionban clearance is provided"between thetors'ion bar and thel lower half of the sleeve 26. This clearance facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the torsion bar and the lever.

The rearward end of the straight body portion 25 of the torsion bar extends-lbeneathfthe transverse frame member l-t'.- The lower 'ii'ange 33 of the frame member l is formed With a longitudinally extending semi-cylindrical groove 34 which receives a semi-cylindrical;'bearing 35, positoned between the torsion bar and the frame member. The bearing 3E is formed of a suitable antifriction material and extends around' the upper half of the torsion bar. As desired, the bearing- L35: can be bonded YorV suitably secured to either v the ftorsion'bar-or therlowerflange 330i the vvframe member.

Rearwardly of rvthe transverse'frame member I4,thetorsion bar is formed with a curved re# turn-bender U-shaped portion 36, similar to the forward U-shaped portion 3i, but Aextending in theopposite directiontherefrom. The free end ofthe rear U-shaped portion 35 of the torsion bar rests upon the upper surface of the lower angel of .a channel 38 secured within the transverse frame member Ill. Shims 3S may be positioned between the lfree end of `the torsion bar and the lower ange 3l of the channel 3B to permit adjustmentof the riding height of the vehicle.

'Because of the U-shaped construction of the rea-rend ofthe torsion bar, the torsional stress in thebar-continues beyond the point of suppori` with the frame member I4, causing relativa angular Vmovement between the bar and the frame member. The load at this'point, however, is taken by the anti-friction bearing 35, and consequently during operation the mounting is noiseless. Y

A modiiied form of mounting for a torsion bar srillustrated in Figure 6, ink which a torsion bar extends Vthrough a sleeve 52 formed integrally with. a lever 53 of the wheel suspension. A yhol- Another modification is shown in 'Figure '7, in

which a Asemi-cylindricalantifriction bearing Si is'bonded'to -a torsion bar 62 and is arranged in directA frictional engagement with the interior surface of a sleeve E3 extending outwardly from thefsuspension-lever G, lthus forming -a simplie'd construction. '-Although'various types of antifr-ictien bearing materials can be used, one advantageous type is 1 acompacted, internally-lubricatedv bearing com-Y posedbasically ofpowdered metal. Y Other-types can be used, however,suchiaslubricated bearings and bearings of'non-metallic material such aszbrake lining.

Itfwill: .be understood that" the.` invention'Y is` not teaibe .limited Lto 'the .exact 'construction .shown and zdescribed, but V.that i-various Vchanges :and mcclcatcns"may :rbemade :'.wthout departing .a

defined in the appended claims. -f

What is claimed is:

frorrithe spiritffand scope fofithejginvention, as

1:. A Vehicle suspension comprising a frame vhaving an intermediate cross member, a. pair of bar 'extending beyond said: sleeve and Vhaving Va curved end portion arranged in supporting relation with said last-mentioned lever at a point spaced transversely from said sleeve, and means anchoring the' opposite end o'f said torsion lbar to 'said cross member.

2. A vehicle suspension comprising a frame having an intermediate cross member, a pair'of vertically spacedlevers extending transversely of said frame andpivotally connected at their inner ends to said frame, a'wheel carrier pivotally connected to the outer ends of said levers, a road vwheel supported by said wheel carrier, a torsion barVv extending longitudinally of said frame between one of said levers andv said cross members, said cross member havingV a semi-cylindrical groove formed in its lower surface, said torsion bar extending beneath said cross member and relatively angularly movable with respect thereto, anda semi-cylindrical antifriction bearing positioned between'the semi-cylindrical vgroove and v the Vupper portion of said torsion bar,4 and means anchoring the opposite end of said torsion bar to said last-named lever.

3. A vehicle suspension comprising a frame having an intermediate cross member, a pair of vertically'spaced' levers extending transversely of :isaidfranfiel and pivotally connectedfat their inner ends to 'said'frame,' a'wheel carrier pivotally connected to the outer ends of said levers, afroad wheel supported by said wheel carrier, a torsion barextendnglongitudinally of said'irame be- A :tween one of saidvlevers and said cross member, one ofrsaid'levers" having la pair of sleeves inte grally formed therein at transversely spaced points, said-torsion 'ba-r extending VVEthrough one of saidVv sleeves and `angul'arly movable with'respect thereto, a sehn-cylindricalv antifriction bearing positioned between said last-mentioned sleeve and the upper portion of said'torsion bar, the portion of said torsion-bar -beyondsaidlastmentioned 'sleeve being substantially U-shaped and terminating in a freeendreceived within" the other of said sleeves,the opposite end of said torl sion1bar Aextending beneathv said' Vcross member and being positioned within a semi-cylindrical groove-formed'on the lowerfside of' said member, and a. semi-cylindrical anti-friction lbearing positioned'between'said cross member and thev upper portion of said torsion"bar-'tofprovide forrelative angular Ymovement Vbe'tweenl'said member v'and bar; the: portion: of said" torsion *barv beyond said l vlast-mentioned bearing being "substantially U'- shaped and terminating' in a -freefend supportedf -of 'the'l lower' flangelof said i uponk the upper-.aside crossmember.-A .-r..

4.11The `structure defined byfrclaim "3 which-'fis T xfurthenccharacterizedin that: meanslareprcviied for adjusting the last-mentioned free end of said torsion bar with respect to the lower flange ofl said cross member.

5. A vehicle suspension comprising a frame having an intermediate cross member, a suspension member pivotally connected to said frame and supporting the road wheel, a torsion bar extending between said members, one of said members having a sleeve through which said torsion bar extends, an antifriction bearing positioned between said torsion bar and said sleeve to provide for relative angular movement between said bar and sleeve, said torsion bar extending beyond said sleeve and having a U-shaped end portion arranged in supporting relation with said lastmentioned member at a point substantially in transverse alignment with said sleeve, and means anchoring the opposite end of said torsion bar to the other of said members.

6. A vehicle suspension comprising a frame having an intermediate cross member, 4a suspension member pivotally connected to lsaid frame :and supporting the road wheel, a torsion bar extending between said members, one of said members having a sleeve through which said ltorsion bar extends, a semi-cylindrical ant-ifriction bearing positioned between said torsion bar and said sleeve to provide for the relative angular movement between said bar and sleeve, said torsion bar extending beyond Isaid sleeve and leaving a U-shaped end portion arranged in supporting relation with said lastmentioned member at a point substantially in transverse alignment with said sleeve, and means anchoring the opposite end of said torsion bar to the other of said members.

7. A vehicle suspension comprising a frame having an intermediate cross member, a suspension member pivotally connected to said frame and supporting the road wheel, a torsion bar `extending between said members, a semicylindrical :antifriction bearing bonded to said torsion bar and engaging one of said members, said torsion bar extending beyond said vanti-.Eriction bearing and having a curved end portion anchored to said last-named member at va point spaced from said antifriction bearing, yand means anchoring the opposite end of said torsion bar to the other of said members.

8. In a vehicle having a frame and a road wheel, a transversely extending suspension member pivotally connected at its inner end -to said frame and at its outer end supporting said road wheel, a torsion bar having a point of support with said frame, the opposite end of said torsion bar being generally U-shaped and having a pair of transversely spaced points of support with said suspension member, said torsion bar intersecting said suspension member at substantially right angles at said points of support.

9. In a vehicle having a frame `and la road wheel, a transversely extending suspension member Ipivotally connected `at its inner end to said frame and rat its outer end supporting said road Wheel, a torsion bar having la point of support with said frame, the opposite end of said torsion bar being generally U-shaped and the opposite sides of said U-shaped end having longitudinally extending zones of engagement, said zones of eng-agement being substantially in transverse alignment with each other.

10. In a vehicle, the combination of a frame, road wheels on opposite sides of said frame,

transversely extending suspension members on opposite sides of said frame, each suspension member having its inner end pivotally -connected to said frame and its outer end connected to one of said road wheels, torsion bars for Iresiliently supporting said wheels upon said frame, each of said torsion bars having one end in Isupporting relation with said frame land the opposite end formed with -a curved return-bend portion bearing against the suspension member for one wheel at two transversely spaced points, the two por' tions oi said bar which bear against the adjacent suspension member being laterally spaced from each other, one coinciding with the axis of the bar land the other extending generally parallel thereto.

1l. An independent suspension for a vehicle comprising a frame, a cross member on said frame, a road wheel, a wheel carrier supporting said wheel, -a pair of vertically spaced levers pivotally connected at opposite ends to said wheel carrier and to Isaid frame for independently mounting said wheel on said frame, and a torsion bar extending parallel to and spaced from the pivotal axis of the connection between one of said levers and said frame, one end of said torsion bar being U-shaped and engaging said lever along transversely spaced axes, oneof s-aid axes coinciding with the axis of said torsion bar `and the other extending substantially parallel to the axis of said torsion bar, and the opposite end of said torsion bar also being U-shaped and having two spaced points of 4support with said cross member.

12. An independent suspension for ya vehicle comprising `a frame, a cross member on said frame, a road Wheel, a wheel carrier supporting said wheel, la pair of vertically spaced levers pivotally connected at opposite ends to said Wheel carrier and to said frame for independently mounting said wheel on said frame, `and a torsion .bar having a straight portion extending parallel to and laterally spaced outwardly from the pivot-al axis of the connection between one of said levers and said frame, one end of the straight portion of said torsion bar abutting with said last-mentioned lever at a point spaced outwardly from said pivotal axis and having a curved end portion abutting said last-mentioned lever yat =a point laterally outwardly from said irst-mentioned point of abutment, the opposite end of said torsion bar being U-shaped and abutting said cross member at points on opposite sides of said :pivotal axis. I

CLYDE R. PATON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,317,818 Parker Oct. 7, 1919 1,383,466 Jett July 5, 1921 1,708,997 Avery Apr. 16, 1929 2,160,862 Hickman June 6, 1939 2,167,984 Leighton Aug. 1, 1939 2,245,809 Olley June 17, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 555,388 Great Britain Aug. 20, 1943 566,570 Great Britain Jan. 4, 1945 

